Up In Smoke (35 page)

“Aw, man! Now she looks normal. We aren't going to get rich that way,” Jim said with disgust.

Aisling watched me for a moment. “I guess I should have been asking if you were all right, rather than Gabriel.”

I pushed aside my own troubles to glance anxiously at Gabriel. Unlike the half-dead, unresponsive man whom I'd managed to drag to an exit outside of Abaddon, he looked positively brimming with health now, his color good, his breathing unlabored.

“Tipene is a good healer, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for May,” he answered with a slight grimace.

Drake entered the room, giving Aisling a pointed look before pulling a chair over behind her and gently pushing her down into it.

“Are you still in pain?” I asked, quickly checking the bandage that was wrapped around his shoulder. “Do you want me to call Tipene?”

“No, that face was a reflection of my failure,” he answered, taking my hand and kissing my fingers.

“Failure? What failure? You did the impossible, Gabriel—you saved me from Baltic when no one else could have,” I said, relieved by the spark of sexual interest that lit in his eyes. If he was feeling randy, then he couldn't still be in much pain.

“You had to rescue me,” he answered, disgruntled. “It should have been the reverse.”

“If your arm hadn't nearly been hacked off, I would punch you in your shoulder so hard you'd flinch,” I said softly.

He grinned, and instantly the dragon shard insisted I jump his bones.

“Honest to god, men,” Aisling muttered, giving both Gabriel and Drake a dark look. “I understand protecting your loved ones, but this is just pure macho, and you both know it. Although I admit I don't understand the whole thing, since May was fairly incoherent when she called us. With worry, naturally, but still, you did promise to tell us what happened. Jim dished with a little of what happened after I summoned it back, but we want to hear the full story.”

I examined Gabriel's face. There were faint lines around his mouth that gave a hint as to how much pain he'd been in until I'd managed to drag him out of Abaddon, but otherwise, he looked up to a recap.

“Before we go into that, did you get Chuan Ren out?” he asked.

Drake nodded. “We did. She has left to go deal with Fiat.”

“Deal with?” I asked, not easy in my mind about what we had unleashed, but knowing there was no other option. “As in kill?”

“Possibly,” Drake said, his fingers caressing the back of Aisling's neck. I was struck once again by their bond, by the deep love the two shared. Would the dragon shard let me love Gabriel the same why? Or had it already changed me so that I would never have that kind of quiet contentment? The dragon emotions were so volatile, so explosive, so totally at odds with my normal, placid self, I couldn't help but mourn what couldn't be.

“He's got it coming to him,” Jim said, plopping itself down on the floor. “I bet he would have had a blast in Abaddon. Not that Chuan Ren is much better. She killed her whole family, didn't she?”

“It's possible that Chuan Ren may attempt to kill Fiat,” Gabriel said thoughtfully, his fingers stroking mine. “But it's also quite possible that the reverse may be true, as well. Fiat seems each day to become more and more unhinged. It would be madness to try to eliminate Chuan Ren, but if his ability to reason is gone, then he may try it.”

“Which would be his own destruction,” Drake said, nodding. “Chuan Ren is too strong to take by a coup. It will be interesting, however, to see what happens.”

“I don't honestly care so long as she doesn't try to declare war again,” Aisling said, patting her belly.

Drake smiled. “I believe Fiat will be the target of her spleen for a while. And after that”—he glanced at me—“we shall see.”

“So what exactly happened after Bael chased you back into the shadow world?” Aisling asked, making herself comfortable.

I went quickly over recent events, recounting faithfully everything Baltic had said.

“You're sure he was a white dragon?” Drake asked, frowning.

I glanced at Gabriel, whose lips had thinned. “That's what I saw, but admittedly, I had just cracked my head on the stone wall and was a bit muzzy still.”

“He was white,” Gabriel agreed. “I was expecting black, not that he looked anything like the portraits of Baltic. Still, he might have changed his appearance. But he was white, Drake, white.”

“Is there a white sept?” Aisling asked her husband. “Or rather, was there at one time?”

“No to both questions,” he answered.

“This is really confusing, then,” Aisling said, and I wholly agreed with her.

“It does seem somewhat conflicting,” I said. “On the one hand, he didn't deny being Baltic, but he also said something about appearances being deceptive, and he was definitely not a black dragon. Which he would be unless he was made ouroboros, wouldn't he?”

Gabriel's fingers tightened around mine. “Yes. Baltic wasn't ouroboros.”

“White's the opposite of black. Maybe he's the anti-Baltic,” Jim said.

We all looked at it.

“What?” it asked, its eyes wide.

“Can there be such a thing?” I asked Gabriel.

His forehead wrinkled as he thought. “I've never heard of it, but then, I've never heard of a dragon having access to the beyond, or wielding a blade of light. That is the weapon of an arcane master, not a dragon.”

“Baltic is said to have trained with an archimage,” Drake said slowly.

“Which would explain why, if he was Baltic, he responded so violently to the wrath demon's sword,” Gabriel said, looking thoughtful.

“I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what is the big deal about a wrath demon's sword, other than it's obviously a badass weapon?” Aisling asked.

“Can't take her anywhere,” Jim said, shaking its head.

“Quiet, demonic one. May? Do you know?” Aisling asked me.

“I know something about them, but not as much as someone more learned in Abaddon,” I answered. “Wrath demons are the equivalent to wyverns' bodyguards. They are an elite corps, very nasty customers, kind of semi-demon lords used to enact only the most deadly of events. Unlike other minions, who rely upon their demon lords for their powers, wrath demons have the ability to use the dark power directly. They imbue that power into weapons, most preferring to use blades of some sort since it's hard to kill an immortal unless you can sever their head, or twain them in two, or something equally impossible to recover from.”

“OK. But what does that have to do with this dragon?” she asked.

“A mage uses arcane magic,” Gabriel answered. “Part of that is based on the ability to manipulate light. Beings who use arcane powers are particularly susceptible to dark power.”

“So when Gabriel skewered the dragon with the wrath demon's shadow blade—a fancy name for a sword imbued with dark power—it had an extra wallop,” I finished.

“Ah. That makes sense. But it doesn't sound like this dragon is Baltic.”

Drake rubbed his chin, his gaze sightless as he thought. “It is conceivable that the dragon was Baltic. The sword of light would fit that premise. We already know he's been able to go into the beyond at will.”

“Oh! That's what I wanted to ask, but forgot. How did your mom get you in there?” Aisling asked Gabriel.

I wanted to know that as well.

“My mother has several dreamings, or aspects of nature. She sought aid from them to allow me access to the beyond. I fear that she promised them much in exchange for their help.”

“So you showed up just in the nick of time, and rescued your damsel from the big bad dragon. That's really very romantic,” she said, giving us both a gentle smile.

My gaze dropped as my fingers twined through Gabriel's. It was terribly romantic, but I found it impossible to celebrate when I stood on the brink of personal destruction.

“Isn't it?” Aisling asked, looking from my downcast face to Gabriel's, which reflected his worry. She sighed. “I'm missing something obvious again, aren't I?”

“Man, you are just asking for a one-liner, aren't you?” Jim said, standing up and shaking.

“Come,
kincsem,
you must have your rest,” Drake said, gently heaving her to her feet. “I will take you home now.”

“You're going to do some explaining, as well, like what exactly it is that has both of them so glum,” she said, allowing him to escort her to the door. She paused there for a minute, looking back at me. “Before I forget, your twin was here, but she had to go. Something about a dirty stream. Or was it a hot springs? Whichever, she sends her love and says she hopes you're feeling better soon so you can help her clean.”

I couldn't help but smile. That sounded just like Cyrene.

Aisling winked at Gabriel before turning back to me. “I may not be the savviest person on the face of the earth—one word, Jim, and it's the Akasha for you!—but I know a good thing when I see it, and you two definitely have it. I hope whatever it is that's troubling you can be easily overcome.”

I waited until the door was closed behind them before meeting Gabriel's gaze. There was sympathy in his eyes, as well as warmer emotions, but there was also a tinge of pity that made me sick.

“Do not turn away from me,” he said as I made a move to get off the bed.

“Don't,” I protested as he pulled me across the breadth of his chest, his warmth and scent sinking into me. “Tipene said you shouldn't use your arm for another day just to make sure everything has healed properly.”

He smiled against my lips. “It would be worth a little pain to reassure you that no matter what you are, no matter what happens to us both, you will always be my mate, and I will always desire you.”

I gave in to the demands of my body and kissed him, my head spinning with the taste and feel of him. “I'm losing the battle, Gabriel. The dragon shard is just too strong.”

“My fierce little bird,” he said, stroking back a strand of hair from my face. “It is a battle, yes, but not one we will lose. We have one shard, Drake and Bastian will lend us theirs, and Chuan Ren has sworn to give us access to the Song phylactery. That leaves only one for us to find, and I have no doubt that the dragon we encountered has that. It just remains for us to put a few plans into place, and you will be able to bring the dragon heart together again.”

I let his calm confidence soothe my frayed nerves, resting my forehead against his as I smiled. “And what will we do if we can't get that last shard?”

“Then we will both remain in dragon form, and I will make suggestive comments about your tail.”

I couldn't help but laugh a little at the twinkle in his eyes. The dragon shard, to my surprise, allowed me to enjoy the moment without demanding immediate mating. “You already do make suggestive comments.”

“Yes, but these will be very specific about what I want you to do,” he answered, his lips hot on mine. “Don't worry about what we must face. You have fought the biggest battle of all, and won.”

“Escaping Abaddon, you mean?” I asked, my hands unable to keep from stroking the heavy muscles of his bare chest.

“No.” His tongue invaded my mouth, doing a fiery dance that was impossibly sweet and arousing at the same time. “You won the battle for my heart.”

I froze for a second, not sure if he was saying what I thought he was saying, but it was there in his face and eyes, and I just wanted to purr with joy despite the coming storm.

“I love you,” I told him, generating a little fire of my own.

“You see? How can our future not be a happy one when you love me as much as I love you,” he said, his hands starting to roam.

I was just considering whether or not I could keep the dragon shard's presence minimalized so I could make incredibly hot, sweaty love to Gabriel when the door to his bedroom was thrown open with a vengeance that made me jump.

Magoth stood in the doorway, a gorgeous red shirt open nearly to the waist of his black leather pants. “I hope you're happy!” he said, hands on his hips as he glared. “I just hope you're both happy!”

“Magoth,” I said, astonished to see him. “What are you doing? This is Gabriel's bedroom. Get out.”

He stepped into the room, waving someone in. Three bellboys staggered in with a vast array of expensive-looking luggage. Magoth stalked into the room until he stood glaring down at both of us. “You just had to tell Sally what you were up to, didn't you? I told you not to, but did you listen to me? No, you did not, and the little backstabbing bitch ran straight to Bael with the details in an attempt to ingratiate herself, and what did he do but excommunicate me! Me, the sixth prince! I've been in Abaddon for more than a millennium, and poof! It's all gone, thanks to you, former consort.”

“
Former
consort?” I asked.

The look of scorn he shot at me would have stopped a rhino in full charge. “You don't think I'm going to keep a consort who has me kicked out of Abaddon, do you? I'm divorcing you, May.”

“But . . .” I looked at Gabriel. He appeared to be just as surprised by Magoth's sudden appearance as I was. “But what are you doing
here
? With all this stuff?”

Magoth plopped himself down in a chair and put his feet up on one of the suitcases, smiling. The mirror behind him shattered. “I'm powerless in both worlds until the excommunication has been finalized. So until my powers are returned to me, sweet May, you're back to being my servant.”